Hugh Chatham Nursing Center to be sold

The Board of Trustees of Hugh Chatham Memorial Hospital (HCMH) announced this week it has entered into an agreement with Century Care Management to purchase Hugh Chatham Nursing Center (HCNC).

The nursing home is located at 700 Johnson Ridge Road.

Hugh Chatham Nursing Center has 117 employees.

Century Care is headquartered in Cary and, according to a release, is one of the state’s leading providers of long-term nursing care, with eight facilities across the state and having served residents for more than 30 years.

The purchase will become effective in the spring of 2014.

According to HCMH CEO Paul Hammes, the HCMH Board of Trustees has been involved in a thorough evaluation of the nursing center over the past year, to ensure that the community will continue to have access to high quality long-term nursing care.

“In recent years, operating nursing centers has become a very specialized management discipline” said Hammes. “As an organization committed to the entire care needs of our community, and as wise stewards of our resources, the board felt it was necessary to evaluate transferring ownership to a company specializing in nursing center operations.”

Hammes said, “During this assessment, one organization clearly stood out. That company is Century Care — a leading provider of long-term care throughout North Carolina for more than 30 years.”

“For several months we have been meeting with Century Care to be certain they not only will be a financially sound provider of quality care, but would be an excellent employer, a positive addition to our business community and a good fit for our residents who trust us for their care,” said J.L. Lowe, HCMH board member and chairman of its senior services committee. “What we found was that Century Care not only met, but exceeded our expectations.”

Lowe, who is also a commissioner for the town of Elkin, said that Century Care offers a comprehensive, integrated approach for total care which combines pharmacy, rehabilitation, nutrition, behavioral health, family support and other programs around the unique needs of residents.

“We continue to be committed to the care of all residents in our community,” Lowe said. “Both of our organizations will work together to ensure a smooth transition with no disruption to the care or services on which residents and families depend.”

According to Century Care Management President Bob Gilliam, the vast majority of the nursing center’s employees will not be affected by the transition.

“The staff at Hugh Chatham Nursing Center can be proud of the outstanding care they provide and of their commitment to the center’s residents,” said Gilliam. “That opportunity will only be enhanced as they become part of the Century Care family. We are looking forward to joining the Elkin community and to continue the tradition of providing exceptional care to the residents at Hugh Chatham Nursing Center.”